The thirsty sea

A farmer whose land was by the sea used to look at the water and think how peaceful it looked. "I should like to be a merchant," he thought. So he sold his farm and , with the money, bought a ship and a cargo of wine. He had only been at sea for two days when a great storm arose.

It seemed that his heavy boat would sink, so he threw the big jars of wine overboard, and at last managed to get safely back. Some months later one of his friends looked at the sea and said how calm and peaceful it looked. "That means it is thirsty," said the farmer, "and is waiting for another shipload of wine."